Don't drink, drive

April 03, 2007

To the editor - The Christmas season is the most wonderful time of the year. Holiday parties will occur, families will get together and good memories will be made. But unfortunately, this Christmas won't just be wonderful; it will also be tragic. Because of alcohol and impaired driving, thousands of people are predicted to die in this month alone. Many people believe that you have to be "falling down drunk" to be too impaired to drive. However, "buzzed driving," or driving while under the influence of only a few drinks, is just as dangerous as drunk driving. Last Christmas, many alcohol-related crashes were the result of buzzed driving. Many drivers thought that, since they consumed only a few drinks before driving, they didn't pose a hazard on the road. Unfortunately, they were wrong. Last December, about 1,200 people across America were killed in traffic accidents involving alcohol, many because of buzzed driving. Any amount of alcohol, no matter how small, is large enough to have an effect on your driving. Whether you are buzzed driving or drunk driving, driving any vehicle while under the influence of alcohol is simply not worth the risk. You not only risk killing yourself or someone else, but you also risk significant trauma and financial costs. The Christmas season is meant to be the most wonderful time of the year, not the most tragic time. This Christmas, please stay safe. Don't drink and drive. Eric Hout CHS SADD Advisory Board Member